Gaming industry faces rising hardware costs and shifting consumer habits

The global gaming industry is navigating a period of technological shifts and economic pressures. Rising costs for critical hardware components, such as DRAM and NAND, are being driven by increased demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure, potentially raising entry barriers for PC gamers.

In the PC segment, players are increasingly relying on older libraries, with 64% of playtime in 2025 involving titles released before 2019. Additionally, PC gaming faces challenges regarding software optimization, as developers often prioritize consoles, and operating systems like Windows 11 can consume significant system resources.

In the handheld market, ASUS is launching the ROG Xbox Ally X20, featuring an OLED screen and AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme silicon, though it faces scrutiny over its $1,299 price point.

Regional market trends show a shift in consumer behavior; in Chile, online marketplaces are seeing significant growth in gaming-related sales. Notebook sales through marketplaces rose by 81.1% in value, contrasting with declines in direct brand-to-consumer online sales.